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150 Utility Rate Peer Comparisons <br />151 The graphs below depict a number of water and sewer rate comparisons with other peer communities for <br />152 single-family homes. For this analysis, peer communities include first -ring suburbs that serve a <br />153 population between 18,000 and 50,000, and which are not simply an extension of a larger entity's system. <br />154 Maplewood for example, is excluded because they're part of St. Paul's system. This group was selected <br />155 to try and approximate stand-alone cities with similar age of infrastructure which can have a significant <br />156 influence on the cost of services. <br />157 <br />158 It should be noted that broad comparisons only give a cursory look at how one community's rates <br />159 compares to another. A more precise comparison would also incorporate each City's individual <br />160 philosophy in funding programs and services. For example, Roseville does NOT utilize assessments to <br />161 pay for water or sewer infrastructure replacements like many other cities do. Instead we fund <br />162 infrastructure replacements 100% through the rates. As a result, Roseville's utility rates are inherently <br />163 higher when compared to a City that uses assessments to pay for improvements. <br />164 <br />165 Other influences on the rates include whether or not a community softens its water before sending it on <br />166 to customers, and the extent in which communities charge higher rates to non -single family residential <br />167 customers. <br />168 <br />169 The following chart depicts the peer group comparison for combined water and sanitary sewer fees for a <br />170 typical single-family home on a quarterly basis. <br />171 <br />2019 Combined Water & Sewer Charges: SF Home <br />(quarterly) <br />$180 <br />$160 — <br />$140 <br />$120 <br />$100 <br />$80 <br />$60 <br />$40 <br />$20 <br />o`er c`5 AN <br />\ai <br />� �5 �.• r �c � �e.Qo oya c a <br />x°J teary 0` xq° ova Q \ae <br />yti• 50 O�oo o\J� �o <br />L <br />172 <br />173 <br />174 As shown in the chart, Rosevillle's water and sewer rates are among the highest in the peer comparison <br />175 group. However, the gap has been narrowing in recent years as other communities respond to their own <br />176 operational and capital replacement needs. The following chart depicts a comparison of utility rate <br />177 impacts for Roseville and the peer group average over the past five years. <br />178 <br />Page 9 of 11 <br />